1 Construct Chains  When two or more nouns are linked together so that the second or any succeeding noun modifies the noun before it, a construct chain exists that requires the English word of for translation.

 The first noun is called the construct.  The last noun is called the absolute.

2 Construct Chains  In English a construct chain would look like this: Construct [of] Absolute

temple of God

the God of Israel

house of prayer

land of your fathers

3 Construct Chains  The construct state is the form of a noun that is used:  To make construct chains  When adding pronominal suffixes to a noun to show .

4 Construct Chains  Nouns in a construct state or nouns that have had pronominal suffixes added to them have undergone vowel shortening.

5 Construct Chains  The regular (dictionary, lexical) form of a noun is called the absolute state.

6 Construct Chains  No matter how long a construct chain is, the entire chain is a unit which can perform all the same functions as a single noun.

 A construct chain can be:  the of a sentence;  a direct ;  an indirect object;  the object of a preposition.

7 Construct Chains Noun Form Singular Dual Absolute -ִ י ם - ִ ים --- Masculine -ִ י ם , -ִ ת י ם - ו ת -ת ,-- , -ִ ה Feminine

Construct -ִ י -ִ י --- Masculine -ִ י ם , -ִ ת י ם - ו ת -ִ ת Feminine 8 Construct Chains Noun Form Singular Plural Dual Absolute ס ו ס י ם ס ו ס ים ס ו ס (Masculine (horse ס ו ס ת י ם ס ו ס ו ת ס ו ס ה (Feminine (mare

Construct ס ו ס י ס ו סי ס ו ס (Masculine (horse ס ו ס ת י ם ס ו ס ו ת ס ו ס ת (Feminine (mare 9 Construct Chains  When ever the absolute is definite, the construct chain is to be translated as definite.

 The noun is definite if it:  has a definite  is a proper noun (name)  has a pronominal suffix (attached pronoun) like my, our, his, her, their, your (singular or plural)

10 Construct Chains אֶרֶ ץ מ צְר י ם  Genesis 41:55  the land of Egypt

וְר ו ח אֱל ה ים  Genesis 1:2  and the Spirit of God

וְע ץ ה ד ע ת ט ו ב ו רע  Genesis 2:9  and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

11 Construct Chains ש ם ה ע יר  Genesis 4:17  the name of the city

ל ב פ רְ ע ה  Exodus 9:7  the heart of Pharaoh

ְ ד ב ר יְהו ה  Exodus 9:20  the word of Yehovah

12 Construct Chain ב ְנ י י ְש רא ל  Exodus 9:35  the children (sons) of Israel

ל עֲד ת ב ְנ י י ְש רא ל  Numbers 19:9 of the children of Israel (ע דה)  for the congregation

ע ל ג ְב ו ל אֶרֶ ץ אֱד ו ם  Numbers 20:23  by the coast of the land of Edom

13 Construct Chains מ י מְר יב ה  Number 20:13 of Meribah (מ י ם )  the water

לְע ינ י כ ל ה ע דה  Numbers 20:27  in the sight (eyes) of all the congregation

ז קְנ י מ דְ י ן  Numbers 22:4  the elders of Midian

14 Construct Chains ע ל ה נ ה ר אֶרֶ ץ ב ְנ י ע מ ו  Numbers 22:5  by the river of the land of the children of his people

15 Construct Chains  A Compact Guide, Miles Van Pelt, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 2012.

 Biblical Hebrew An Introductory Grammar, Page H. Kelly, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, copyright 1992.

 Learning Biblical Hebrew A New Approach Using Discourse Analysis, B.M. Rocine, Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc., Macon, Georgia, copyright 2000.

16 Hebrew lessons compiled by: Beth C. Mehaffey https://holyhiway.wordpress.com Contact: betmeh2 at gmail.com

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